Colin

"Colin" by E. F. Benson is an early 20th-century historical fiction novel set in Queen Elizabeth I's England and revolves around the Stanier family, burdened yet blessed by a dark ancestral legend. Young and charismatic Colin Stanier, a shepherd, unexpectedly gains Queen Elizabeth's favor, propelling him into nobility and prosperity. This rise is fueled by a supposed pact with the devil, a bargain that assures his family's fortune but at a terrible price. The story follows Colin's journey, examining themes of power, ambition, and the moral consequences that ripple through the Stanier family as they grapple with a dangerous supernatural agreement that slowly erodes their legacy and reveals the hidden weaknesses within their gilded world.

Edward Frederic Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, historian and short story writer.